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Bitrex Is The Most Bitter Substance In The World

December 29, 2016

Written byCuriosity Staff

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What's the most bitter thing you've ever tasted? Coffee, kale, or maybe even dark chocolate? Imagine that pungent flavor multiplied exponentially. That's Denatonium Benzoate (Bitrex, to use its brand name). It was named the world's bitterest substance by the Guinness Book of World Records.

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Here's Why It's Still A Thing

Although the substance was rejected as an anesthetic, its extremely bitter taste has an advantage: adding it to dangerous products makes them less appealing to children and animals. Accidental poison ingestion was a big problem in the 1980s, so concerned mothers like Lynn Tylczak advocated for Bitrex to be added to dangerous household products. The compound itself is harmless; it just tastes really, really horrible. In 1995, the U.S. state of Oregon passed a law requiring Bitrex to be added to antifreeze and windshield wiper fluid. Now you can find Bitrex listed as a prominent ingredient in several common poisonous products, ranging from perfumes to household cleaners. This bitter accident is helping to save lives!

Want to try Bitrex for yourself? Order a taste test here (you can even win prizes by sharing it on social media). To give you an idea, here's what Tylczak told The New York Times: "I took a tiny taste of Bitrex and my mouth tasted like a place where old spiders go to die." Good luck.

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Watch And Learn: Dangerous Substances

Making The Most Bitter Compound Known

We know how bitter Bitrex is, but how is it made? Watch someone make it below.